Although David Cook didn’t sing “Time of My Life,” his “American Idol” coronation song, the experience had by the crowd of 3,500 at Allegan County Fairgrounds on Tuesday night was probably right up there. It’s surprising, really, that Cook came off the 2008 Idol tour only one year ago. He displayed easy camaraderie with the crowd and his band members (two, guitarists Neal “Doctor” Tiemann and Andy Skib played with him back in the day on the Tulsa music scene in a band called MWK), flicking picks like a pro and bantering with the crowd.

At one point, he grabbed a homemade sign made by a crowd members — “Neal is my Guitar Hero” — and, grinning, plopped it behind his bandmate, clearly pleased as punch.

Signs about fair food abounded, too, such as “Do You Want Some Elephant Ears?” and DC rolled with the theme. “I do eat nothing but food,” he quipped.

“A Kiss on the Neck,” meanwhile, was a collective kiss-off to those who had trashed the hearts of one and all. “This is for those of you who are not in love,” he said wryly.

In keeping with Cook’s “Idol” song renovations, he did a little mash-up with “Hotel California” and “Kiss.” I’m not sure why, but it totally worked.

Another tune spun through Cook’s imagination station was Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies,” which he sang this summer on “Good Morning America” with Kris Allen and Adam Lambert of the current “Idol” season. Too bad I missed that performance!

In fine form, Cook added a vocal doodad here and a guitar gizmo there — not that the song needed anything — and made it his own.

Several tunes, such as “Make Me” and “Souvenir” weren’t from his self-titled November of 2008 album. It’s cool he still believes in those songs, some written years ago, even though they don’t necessarily have the record label’s stamp of approval.

He did nod to “Idol” a few times, quite graciously compared to other former contestants. Watching the 2009 live tour, he said, made him feel “like a weird, loving parent,” and he thanked his fans for voting for him during the show.

“Life on the Moon” was another reference to his newfound fame brought on by winning Season 7. “Life on the moon couldn’t be any stranger/Life on the moon wouldn’t feel as far away.”

Cook might feel like he’s on the moon, but he brings an earthy, grounded sensibility to his performances that makes him feel like the guy next door. The 26-year-old doesn’t take himself too seriously, either, joking around all night and injecting a party spirit into songs such as “Bar-Ba- Sol,” which was Big Fun.

Between his biggest hits so far, the sweet rocker “Come Back to Me” and his finale, “Light On,” Cook reiterated his thanks for the rowdy crowd’s love.

“I hope I don’t come off as insincere,” he said. “It means so much to me that you’re all here.”

Insincere? Not a bit. In fact, there’s no doubt West Michigan will leave the Light On until David Cook’s next stop here.

ARTICLE BY: Lorilee Craker | The Grand Rapids Press
E-mail the author: yourlife@grpress.com
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